Name: Facebook is building an $800M data center in Gallatin
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Facebook is building an $800M data center in Gallatin

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Nashville TennesseanView CommentsConstruction is underway&nbsp;on&nbsp;an $800 million Facebook data center northeast of&nbsp;Nashville that will take up to three years to build and cover nearly 1 million square feet.&nbsp;Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg&nbsp;announced&nbsp;that the center&nbsp;will create 100 high-paying jobs and be supported by two new solar energy projects in south and west Tennessee.This will be the 13th Facebook data center in the U.S. and 17th worldwide.&nbsp;It is going up in a Gallatin industrial park next to Beretta USA's firearms&nbsp;plant, a Gap distribution center, SERVPRO,&nbsp;and American Colors paint manufacturer."For every one data center job we create, we create five jobs in community services, food or housing," Sandberg told The Tennessean. "It's a massive construction project, a massive investment for two to three years. Then there are the ongoing jobs. We take our responsibility in the local community really seriously."Facebook's investment comes with business and educational grants for the community. The company recently offered $100 million in grants to small businesses globally and will soon announce a second round for Black-owned small businesses.&nbsp;Communities with existing data centers received $1 million grants after the coronavirus pandemic began. Science and technology education programs are also commonly awarded to host cities.&nbsp;Gallatin leaders have been working with Facebook for three years on plans for the new complex of rectangular gray warehouses.&nbsp;They will house seemingly endless rows of servers, routers, firewalls and other electrical equipment carefully maintained&nbsp;in climate-controlled rooms.&nbsp;"This is something we have worked for for decades&nbsp;– to have this kind of monumental investment," Gallatin Mayor Paige Brown said. "We believed it would happen but didn't know when. We're excited it's now and it's them. Hopefully it's a morale boost throughout the region: that there is a future."The region will receive millions in tax revenue a year from the new project.&nbsp;The COVID-19 stay-at-home orders accelerated the need for data centers to upload online content faster and more consistently.&nbsp;Sandberg said small businesses rely on&nbsp;free hosting sites Facebook and Instagram, which is owned by Facebook,&nbsp;to launch their web and mobile companies&nbsp;while their storefronts are closed.&nbsp;SANDBERG:In Nashville, 80/20 Fitness uses Facebook Live to broadcast fitness training to customers. Parnassus Books also launched an online book store."With people literally staying at home, and the economic devastation it's caused, I really think it made the things we do more important," Sandberg said. "We really have a big responsibility to help and it's one we take really seriously. Before the virus, a huge number of small businesses in the U.S. didn't even have a web presence."TECH PRESENCE:The Facebook Gallatin Data Center will be fueled entirely by renewable energy sources. Those include solar energy projects in Lincoln and Madison counties in partnership with the Tennessee Valley Authority.&nbsp;Facebook relies on outside air to cool the servers in its data centers to temperatures between 65 and 85 degrees. It also collects and repurposes hot air from the equipment.&nbsp;The added&nbsp;data processing capacity can be accessed around the world, but may increase speeds for regional Facebook, Instagram, Oculus and WhatsApp transmissions of things like photos, videos and "likes."&nbsp;"We think it could make things a little bit faster for people in the region," said Melanie Roe, a Facebook spokesperson. "But we have redundancy in our data centers so things can be stored in any of our centers."SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM: The center will create 100 permanent jobs and it will employ about 1,500 people during construction.&nbsp;"It is a testament to the quality of our business environment and the competitive spirit of our state that in this economy we are able to attract one of the world's largest companies," said Gov. Bill Lee. "We are excited about the investment, quality jobs, and economic opportunity they will bring."Facebook chose Gallatin because of its proximity to other data centers, nearby opportunities to build sustainable energy projects, and relationships with state and local partners, officials said.&nbsp;But Sandberg said she's also excited about this project for personal reasons.&nbsp;"I could go on and on about my love for Nashville," she said. "When I was young, we went on a family trip and it was amazing. We went to the Grand Ole Opry and I love Goo Goo Clusters. I'm super into country music. This has nothing to do with why we picked it for the data center. But, as soon as we can travel, I will be there."Sandy Mazza can be reached via email at smazza@tennessean.com, by calling 615-726-5962, or on Twitter @SandyMazza.View Comments

Nashville TennesseanView CommentsConstruction is underway&nbsp;on&nbsp;an $800 million Facebook data center northeast of&nbsp;Nashville that will take up to three years to build and cover nearly 1 million square feet.&nbsp;Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg&nbsp;announced&nbsp;that the center&nbsp;will create 100 high-paying jobs and be supported by two new solar energy projects in south and west Tennessee.This will be the 13th Facebook data center in the U.S. and 17th worldwide.&nbsp;It is going up in a Gallatin industrial park next to Beretta USA's firearms&nbsp;plant, a Gap...

Facebook is building an $800M data center in Gallatin

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